Method and system for communicating between a local collection facility and a remote facility

ABSTRACT

A system and method for operating the same includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives local channel signals at a local collection facility and encodes the local channel signals into respective IP signals. The local collection facility includes a router routing the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore particularly to a method and system for communicating between alocal collection facility and a remote facility.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Satellite broadcasting of television signals has increased inpopularity. Satellite television providers continually offer more andunique services to their subscribers to enhance the viewing experience.Providing reliability in a satellite broadcasting system is therefore animportant goal of satellite broadcast providers. Providing reliablesignals reduces the overall cost of the system by reducing the number ofreceived calls at a customer call center.

In satellite broadcasting systems, users have come to expect theinclusion of local channels in addition to the channels broadcast forthe entire Continental United States. Collecting the channels may beperformed in various manners, including providing a manned station thatreceives the signals. The signals may be uplinked from variouslocations. Providing manned stations increases the labor costs and thusincreases the overall cost of the service.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a means for communicating between alocal collection facility and a remote collection facility. The systemmay be suitable for collecting television signals and communicating themto a remote facility such as an uplink facility.

In one aspect of the invention, a method includes receiving channelsignals at a local collection facility, encoding the channel signalsinto respective IP signals and routing the respective IP signals throughan IP network to a remote facility.

In another aspect of the invention, a method includes receiving a firstplurality of channel signals at a first local collection facility,receiving a second plurality of channels a second local collectionfacility spaced apart from the first local collection facility, encodingthe first plurality of channel signals into a first plurality IPsignals, encoding the second plurality of channels into a secondplurality of IP signals, and routing the first IP signals through an IPnetwork to a remote facility.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method includes receiving afirst plurality of channel signals at a first local collection facility,receiving a second plurality of channels a second local collectionfacility spaced apart from the first local collection facility,receiving a third plurality of channel signals at a third localcollection facility, receiving a fourth plurality of channels a fourthlocal collection facility spaced apart from the first local collectionfacility, encoding the first plurality of channel signals into a firstplurality IP signals, encoding the second plurality of channels into asecond plurality of IP signals, encoding the third plurality of channelsignals into a third plurality IP signals, encoding the fourth pluralityof channels into a fourth plurality of IP signals, routing the firstplurality of IP signals and the second plurality of IP signals throughan IP network to a first remote facility, routing the third plurality ofIP signals and the fourth plurality of IP signals through the IP networkto a second remote facility, monitoring the first local collectionfacility, the second local collection facility, the third localcollection facility and the fourth local collection facility at amonitoring system.

In still another aspect of the invention, a system includes an IPnetwork, a remote facility and a local collection facility incommunication with the local collection facility through the IP network.The local collection facility receives channel signals at a localcollection facility and encodes the channel signals into respective IPsignals. The local collection facility includes a router routing therespective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is an overall system view of a collection and communicationsystem in the continental United States.

FIG. 2 is a system view at the regional level of the collection andcommunication system.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagrammatic view of a first embodiment ofthe collection and communication system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagrammatic view of a second embodiment ofthe collection and communication system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagrammatic view of a receiving circuit moduleillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling theparameters at the receiving circuit module.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for switching the receiving source ofthe receiving circuit module.

FIG. 9 is of a method for switching to a back-up receiver circuitmodule.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for switching to an engineeringuplink signal processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

As used herein, the term module, circuit and/or device refers to anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, aprocessor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one ormore software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit,and/or other suitable components that provide the describedfunctionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and Cshould be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using anon-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within amethod may be executed in different order without altering theprinciples of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is described with respect to a satellitetelevision system. However, the present disclosure may have various usesincluding satellite data transmission and reception for home or businessuses. The system may also be used in a cable system or wirelessterrestrial communication system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a collection and communication system 10includes a satellite 12 that includes at least one transponder 13.Typically, multiple transponders are in a satellite. Although only onesatellite is shown, more than one is possible or even likely.

The collection and communication system 10 includes a central facilityor Network operations center (NOC) 14 and a plurality of regional orremote uplink facilities (RUF) 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E and 16F. In anon-satellite system the facilities may be referred to as a remotefacility. The regional or remote uplink facilities 16A-16F may belocated at various locations throughout a landmass 18 such as thecontinental United States, including more or less than thoseillustrated. The regional or remote uplink facilities 16A-16F uplinkvarious uplink signals 17 to satellite 12. The satellites downlinksignals 19 to various users 20 that may be located in different areas ofthe landmass 18. The users 20 may be mobile or fixed users. The uplinksignals 17 may be digital signals such as digital television signals ordigital data signals. The digital television signals may be highdefinition television signals, standard definition signals orcombinations of both. Uplinking may be performed at various frequenciesincluding Ka band. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to Kaband. However, Ka band is a suitable frequency example used throughoutthis disclosure. The central facility or NOC 14 may also receivedownlink signals 19 corresponding to the uplink signals 17 from thevarious regional or remote uplink facilities and from itself formonitoring purposes. The central facility 14 may monitor and control thequality of all the signals broadcast from the system 10.

The central facility 14 may also be coupled to the regional or remoteuplink facilities through a network such as a computer network havingassociated communication lines 24A-24F. Each communication line 24A-F isassociated with a respective regional or remote uplink site 16.Communication lines 24A-24F are terrestrial-based lines. As will befurther described below, all of the functions performed at the regionalor remote uplink facilities may be controlled centrally at the centralfacility 14 as long as the associated communication line 24A-F is notinterrupted. When a communication line 24A-F is interrupted, eachregional or remote uplink site 16A-F may operate autonomously so thatuplink signals may continually be provided to the satellite 12. Each ofthe regional or remote uplink and central facilities includes atransmitting and receiving antenna which is not shown for simplicity inFIG. 1.

Each of the regional or remote uplink facilities 16A-16F may also be incommunication with a local collection facility collectively referred towith reference numeral 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, three localcollection facilities are associated with each remote uplink facility16. For example, remote uplink facility 16A has local collectionfacilities 30A, 30B and 30C associated therewith. Local collectionfacilities 30D-30S are associated with one of the other remote uplinkfacilities 16B-16F. Although only three local collection facilities areillustrated for each remote uplink facility 16, numerous localcollection facilities may be associated with each remote uplink facility16. The number of local collection facilities 30 may be numerous, suchas 40 for each remote uplink facility. The number of local collectionfacilities 30 is limited by the amount of equipment and the capabilitiesthereof associated with each remote uplink facility 16.

The local collection facilities 30 are used for collecting localtelevision stations in various designated marketing areas (DMA). As isillustrated, local collection facility 30A is located in DMA1 and localcollection facility 30B is located in DMA2. For simplicity, only twoDMAs are illustrated. However, each local collection facility may belocated in a DMA.

The local collection facilities 30 may be in communication with eachremote uplink facility 16 through a communication network 32. As will bedescribed below, the communication network 32 may be an internetprotocol (IP) network. The signals from the local collection facilities30 may thus be video-over-IP signals. Each of the remote uplinkfacilities 16 are in communication with each local collection facility30 through the communication network 32. As is illustrated, localcollection facility 30A is in communication with the remote uplinkfacility 16A through communication network 32A, while local collectionfacility 30B is in communication with the remote uplink facility 16Athrough communication network 32B, and so on.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the regional or remote uplink facilities16A-16F of FIG. 1 are illustrated collectively as reference numeral 16.The regional facilities 16 may actually comprise two facilities thatinclude a primary site 40 (such as the remote uplink facility 16 above)and a diverse site 42. The primary site 40 may be referred to as aprimary broadcast center (PBC). As will be described below, the centralsite 14 may also include a primary site and diverse site as is set forthherein. The primary site 40 and diverse site 42 of both the central andregional sites may be separated by at least 25 miles, or, more even moresuch as, at least 40 miles. In one constructed embodiment, 50 miles wasused. The primary site 40 includes a first antenna 44 for transmittingand receiving signals to and from satellite 12. Diverse site 42 alsoincludes an antenna 46 for transmitting and receiving signals fromsatellite 12.

Primary site 40 and diverse site 42 may also receive signals from GPSsatellites 50. GPS satellites 50 generate signals corresponding to thelocation and a precision timed signal that may be provided to theprimary site 40 through an antenna 52 and to the diverse site 42 throughan antenna 54. It should be noted that redundant GPS antennas (52A,B)for each site may be provided. In some configurations, antennas 44 and46 may also be used to receive GPS signals.

A precision time source 56 may also be coupled to the primary site 40and to the diverse site 42 for providing a precision time source. Theprecision time source 56 may include various sources such as coupling toa central atomic clock. The precision time source 56 may be used totrigger certain events such as advertising insertions and the like.

The primary site 40 and the diverse site 42 may be coupled through acommunication line 60. Communication line 60 may be a dedicatedcommunication line. The primary site 40 and the diverse site 42 maycommunicate over the communication line using a video over internetprotocol (IP).

Various signal sources 64 such as an optical fiber line, copper line orantennas may provide incoming signals 66 to the local collectionfacility 30. Incoming signal 66, as mentioned above, may be televisionsignals. The television signals may be over-the-air high-definitionsignals, over-the-air standard television signals, or high or standarddefinition signals received through a terrestrial communication line.The incoming signals 66 such as the television signals may be routedfrom the local collection facility 30 through the communication network30 to the primary site 40, or the diverse site 42 in the event of aswitchover. The switchover may be manual or a weather-related automaticswitchover. A manual switchover, for example, may be used during amaintenance condition.

Users 20 receive downlink signals 70 corresponding to the televisionsignals. Users 20 may include home-based systems, business-based systemsor multiple dwelling unit systems. As illustrated, a user 20 has areceiving antenna 72 coupled to an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 74that processes the signals and generates audio and video signalscorresponding to the received downlink signal 70 for display on thetelevision or monitor 76. It should also be noted that satellite radioreceiving systems may also be used in place of the IRD 74. Theintegrated receiver decoder 74 may be incorporated into or may bereferred to as a set top box.

The user 20 may also be a mobile user. The user 20 may therefore beimplemented in a mobile device or portable device 80. The portabledevice 80 may include but are not limited to various types of devicessuch as a laptop computer 82, a personal digital assistant 84, acellular telephone 86 or a portable media player 88.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the local collection facility 30 is illustratedin more detail adjacent to the remote uplink facility (RUF) 16. Asmentioned above, the local collection facility 30 is in communicationwith the remote uplink facility 16 through a network 32 such as an IPnetwork. The local collection facility 30 is used for collecting signalsin a designated marketing area or other area. The channel signals may bereceived as over-the-air television signals or through a direct localfeed such as an optical fiber or wire. For an over-the-air signal, anantenna or plurality of antennas 100 are provided. The antenna channelsignals are directed to a router 102. The router signals arecommunicated to a plurality of receiver circuit modules 104A-C(collectively referred to as 104). The number of receiver circuitmodules 104 depends upon various design parameters such as how manychannels the designated market includes. Various numbers of receivercircuit modules 104 may be provided.

In addition to the receiver circuit modules 104, a monitor receivercircuit module 106 may also be coupled to the RF router 102. Also, aback-up receiver circuit module 108 may be included at the localcollection facility 108.

The details of the receiver circuit modules 104A-C, 106 and 108 will befurther described below. However, the receiver circuit modules generallyinclude a receiver module 110 and an encoder module 112. The receivermodule 110 is used to tune, demodulate and decode the over-the-airsignals. The decoder may decode from MPEG2 format. The receiver circuitmodule, as will be described below, includes an ATSC receiver or an NTSCreceiver. The receive signals are processed and encoded into a formatsuch an IP format in the encoder 112. The monitor receiver circuitmodule is used for generating monitor circuits for each of the receivechannel signals. That is, although only one receiver module may beprovided, the monitoring system may monitor one of the channel signals.This may be performed remotely through the network 32 from the remoteuplink facility 16. The encoder 112 may encode into MPEG4 format.

A serial digital interface router 120 may also be provided. The serialdigital interface router may be a high definition serial digitalinterface router. The serial digital interface (SDI) router 120 mayreceive local feeds directly from the local channel providers. These maybe provided through a wire or optical fiber. The SDI router 120 routesthe channel signals received from the local feeds 118 to the receivingcircuit modules 104A-C, 106 and 108. The output of the receiving circuitmodules 104A-C, 106 and 108 are in communication with a primary router130 and a back-up router 132. A suitable example of a primary andback-up router is a Cisco® 7604. Preferably each of the receivingcircuit modules 104, 106 and 108 are in communication with both theprimary router 130 and the back-up router 132. An A-B switch 134 is usedto generate an output signal corresponding to one of the primary router130 or the back-up router 132. The routers 130, 132 route the IP signalsthrough the switch 134 and through the network 32 which communicates theencoded channel signals to the remote uplink facility 16, diverse uplinkfacility and the network operation center. The routers 130, 132 and theswitch 134 may be monitored and controlled by the compression systemcontrolled or ABMS system described below.

The remote uplink facility 16 may include an uplink signal processingsystem (USPS) 200. In a constructed embodiment several uplink signalprocessing systems 200 may be provided. This may include a secondary orback-up USPS that will be referred to as an engineering USPS 200′described in FIG. 4 below. The encoded channel signals routed throughthe network 32 includes identification of the signal so that it may beproperly routed to the proper uplink signal processing system. Asdescribed below, this may be done by multicasting. The uplink signalprocessing system 200 generates an output signal to an uplink RF system(URFS) 202 that includes a power amplifier 204. The output signal ofeach USPS 200 may correspond to one transponder of a satellite. Theoutput signal is a multiplexed signal that may include both highdefinition television signals and standard definition televisionsignals. The uplink signal processing system 200 may also provideredundant pairs to increase the reliability of the output signal.

The uplink signal processing system 200 may include a multiplexer 210,an advance transport processing system (ATPS) 212, and a modulator 214.Pairs of multiplexers 210, advance transport processing systems 212, andmodulators 214 may be provided for redundancy. That is primary andback-up pairs of each may be provided.

The multiplexer 210 multiplexes the decoded channel signals from thelocal area network 32 into a multiplexed transport stream (MPTS). Themultiplexer 210 may also act to insert advertising into the signal.Thus, the multiplexer 210 may act as a multiplexing module and as an adinsertion module. The multiplexer 210 may be a statistical multiplexerused to group signals from various local collection facilities. Variousnumbers of encoded channel signals may be multiplexed. In oneconstructed embodiment, eight channel signals were multiplexed at eachmultiplexer 210.

The advance transport processing system (ATPS) 212 converts thetransport stream from the multiplexer 210 into an advanced transportstream such as the DIRECTV® A3 transport stream. The ATPS 212 maysupport either ASI or MPEG output interface for the broadcast path.Thus, the ATPS 212 acts as an encryption module.

The modulators 214 modulate the transport stream from the ATPS 212 andgenerate an RF signal at a frequency such as an L-band frequency. An RFswitch 216 is coupled to the primary modulator and back-up modulator214. The RF switch provides one output signal to the uplink RF system202. The USPS 200 may also be coupled to a quality control (QC) stationconsole 250. The quality control station console 250 may be coupleddirectly to the RF switch 216. The quality control station console 250may also be coupled to a communication monitoring bus 252. The bus 252may be used to communicate between various components used formonitoring and controlling the various components in the remote uplinkfacility and the local collection facilities. The bus 252 may, forexample, be in communication with a tech services monitor console 254.The bus 252 may also be coupled to an advance broadcast managementsystem (ABMS) server 256. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, both a primaryserver and a back-up server 256 are illustrated.

A compression system controller 260 may also be coupled to the bus 252.As is illustrated, both a primary and back-up compression systemcontroller 260 may be provided. The compression system controller 260may be coupled to a broadcast management system 262 as will be furtherdescribed below. The ABMS system 256 and the compression systemcontroller 260 may be used to control various functions and monitorvarious functions of the remote uplink facility and the local collectionfacilities. These functions will be further described below.

The compression system controller 260 is a centralized server which isused to control and monitor the receiving circuit modules within thechain of a remote uplink facility. The compression system controller 260may be used to manage, configure, control and monitor the receivingcircuit modules and the encoders therein. The compression systemcontroller may also control the routers, switches and receivers withinthe receiving circuit modules. The compression system controller may bephysically located within the remote uplink facility. However, webaccess may be provided through a standard web browser for allowing usersto interface, configure and control the various systems. In addition tocontrolling the receiving circuit modules and the statisticalmultiplexers, the compression system controller 260 may be used toinitiate a redundancy switch to a back-up receiving circuit module orencoder within the local collection facilities. The compression systemcontroller may also be used to initiate a switch to a back-upstatistical multiplexer within the remote uplink facility 16. Thecompression system controller may also be used to update the remotebroadcast management system 262.

Each of the components of the USPS 200 may be coupled to the bus 252.That is, the primary and back-up multiplexers 210, the primary andback-up ATPS's 212, the primary and back-up modulators 214 and the RFswitch 216 may all be coupled to the bus 252.

The ABMS system 256 may be used for various monitoring such as transportlevel errors, video outages, audio outages, loss of connection from aredundancy controller or a data source or a compression systemcontroller 260.

The remote uplink facility may also include the diverse uplink facilityor diverse site 42. The diverse site may receive signals from theprimary ATPS 212 in the event of a modulator 214 or switch failure 216.The transport stream signals provided from the primary or back-upadvanced transport processing system 212 are communicated to the primarymodulator or back-up modulator 214′ of the diverse facility 42. An RFswitch 216′ may be used to couple the output of either the primarymodulator or the back-up modulator 214′ to the uplink RF system 202. TheABMS system 256′ may also be used to monitor the output of the diverseuplink facility 256′.

The network operation center 14 may be coupled the IP network 32. Thenetwork operation center may also be coupled to the remote uplinkfacility through an ATM or IP network 280. The network operation centermay have a monitor and control console 282 and a monitoring decoder 284for monitoring and controlling various functions of the various remoteuplink facilities. The network operation center monitor and controlconsole 282 may also be used to control and monitor the various localcollection facilities 30. This may be performed directly or through thecompression system controller 260.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a system similar to that of FIG. 3 isillustrated. The common components will thus not be described further.The system of FIG. 4 illustrates that multiple USPS circuits may beincluded in the remote facility. The multiple USPS circuits areillustrated with the same reference numerals as the USPS chain withprimed numbers. The functions are the same as the unprinted components.The USPS's 200-200″ may be referred to as a production USPS.

The system of FIG. 4 also illustrates an engineering uplink signalprocessing system 200″. The engineering uplink signal processing system200″ may be coupled to the network 32 and/or the bus 252. Theengineering uplink signal processing system 200″ may be at a samelocation as one of the remote uplink facilities or a different locationthan the remote uplink facilities. The engineering uplink signalprocessing system 200″ may be used when one of the remote uplinkfacilities is under maintenance or if an error occurs. Switching to theengineering uplink signal processing system 200″ will be describedbelow. The engineering uplink signal processing system 200″ includes aprimary and back-up MUX 210″, a primary and back-up ATPS 212″, a primaryand back-up modulator 214″ and an RF switch 216″. The functioning ofeach of the components of the USPS is similar to those described abovewith respect to the production USPS 200 and thus will not be described.The output of the RF switch 216″ is communicated to an uplink RF system202″ that includes an amplifier 204″ for uplinking signals to asatellite. A compression system controller 260″ may be in communicationwith the engineering USPS 200″ through a bus 290.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the receiving circuit module 104 is illustratedin further detail. The receiving circuit module 104 includes a housing300 that has an RF input 302 coupled to an antenna 312 or the like andan SDI input 304 coupled to a wire or optical fiber. The housing alsoincludes an input/output interface 306 for coupling signals to an IPnetwork.

The RF input 302 is in communication with an antenna 312 and an NTSCreceiver module 314 and an ATSC receiver module 316. The NTSC receivermodule 314 may include a tuner 320, a demodulator 322 and a decoder 324.The ATSC receiver module 316 may also include a tuner 330, a demodulator332 and a decoder 334. Both receiver modules 314, 316 may tune to aparticular channel and demodulate and decode the particularly formattedchannel signal. Because the NTSC receiver module 314 is receiving ananalog signal, the analog signal is converted to a digital signal and ananalog-to-digital converter 340. The output of the analog-to-digitalconverter 340 and the ATSC receiver module 316 is communicated to a bussuch as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) 342. The PCI 342 maybe coupled to a PCI 344 that is in communication with a control module346 such as a mother board and an input/output (I/O) control module 348.The I/O control module 348 may control the communication into and out ofthe input/output interface 306. The control modules 346, 348 may alsoroute input signals to the RF input module 300.

The I/O control module 348 may control incoming control signals from thenetwork 32 which originate from the RUF. The control signals may be usedto control and configure the encoder and receivers. The I/O controlmodule 348 may also be used to generate an output signal with data forthe compression system controller at the RUF to monitor. The data mayinclude an indication as to the health and status of the variouscomponents.

An encoder 360 may also be included within the same housing 300. Theencoder 360 may receive signals directly from the SDI input 304 orthrough an equalizer 361. Audio signals may also be received through theSDI input 304. The encoder 360 may comprise a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) 362 that includes a video routing and scaling module 364that provides signals to an ASSP main encoder 364 and an ASSP lookaheadencoder 366. The encoders 364, 366 may include a DRAM 368 and 370,respectively. A flash memory 372 and flash memory 374 may also beassociated with the respective encoders 364, 366. An input and outputcontroller 376 may receive information or data from the encoders 364,366 and provide the information or data to a direct memory access module378. The DMA module 378 may also receive signals from an audio/advancedvideo coding/closed-captioning module 380. The function of the encoder362 is to encode the signals into format responsive to transmissionthough the network 32. In this example, the format is an IP format. Thesignals from either the NTSC receiver module 314 or the ATSC receivermodule 316 may also be encoded. Each receiving circuit module 104 andthus each RF input module 314 and encoder 360 are used to process asingle-receive channel. Encoding may be into MPEG4 format.

One advantage of the configuration of receiving circuit module 104 isthat multiple sources can be used to receive a channel signal.Conventional standard definition over-the-air signals may be receivedwith the NTSC receiver module 314. The ATSC receiver module 316 may beused to receive high definition over-the-air broadcast signals. The SDIinput 304 may be used to receive standard definition signals receivedthrough a cable or optical fiber. Through the control module 348 whichmay be controlled from the remote uplink facility, the type of input maybe selected. It should be noted that the switching from the varioustypes of receiving sources may be performed remotely from the remoteuplink facility or the network operation center. Thus, without localpersonnel the remote uplink facility can be configured for differentchannel types. This will be particularly useful when over-the-airstandard definition signals are no longer broadcast.

Another advantage of the receiving circuit module 104 is that bycombining the encoding and receiving functions together in one housing,the amount of rack space consumed is reduced.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a method of operating the system illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrated. In step 610, the channel signals arereceived at the local collection facility through either an antenna oran over-the-air transmission. As mentioned above, the received channelsignals may be standard definition (NTSC) or high definition signals(ATSC).

In step 612, the received channel signals are encoded into a formatsuitable for transmission to the remote uplink facility. In thisexample, IP signals are used. This may be MPEG4 format. That is, thereceived channel signals are converted into IP signals for each channelat the local collection facility. This may be performed using a separatereceiving circuit module illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 correspondingto each of the channel signals.

In step 614, the channel IP signals that have been encoded are routedthrough the routers to the remote uplink facility.

In step 616, a statistical multiplexer in one of the USPS circuits atthe remote uplink facility is controlled and receives the varioussignals. The statistical multiplexer is used to receive various signalsto form an uplink signal for a transponder. The statistical multiplexermay receive signals from a number of different local collectionfacilities and assemble them into a multiplexed signal. The statisticalmultiplexers may change the channel allocation based upon the variousparameters for the various signals. The compression system controller260 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used to control the allocation.Multicast addresses may be assigned to the channel IP signals so thatthe multiplexers receive the grouping of the signals.

In step 618, the statistical multiplexers receive the designated channelIP signals and form multiplexed signals. In step 620, a transport streamis formed in the ATPS. The ATPS may encode the signal.

In step 622, the modulator modulates the transport stream. In step 624,the RF switch 216 generates an output switch that is communicated to theuplink RF system. The uplink RF system generates the uplink signal basedupon the output signal from the RF switch. The uplink signal is thenuplinked to a satellite. In a non-satellite system, the RF signal may becommunicated through a terrestrial antenna or wired-type system.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a method for controlling the local collectionfacility is set forth. As mentioned above, the local collection facilitymay be controlled at a remote uplink facility or network operationcenter. In step 710, each of the local collection facilities has areceiving circuit module for each channel desired to be operated. Inaddition, a monitoring receiving circuit module may also be provided.The receiving circuit module may be controlled through control signalsfrom the remote uplink facility. The desired channel to be monitored isrouted through the monitoring receiving circuit module 106. The signalsto be monitored are routed through the IP network 32 to the remoteuplink facility or to the network operation center. Monitoring andcontrol may be provided through the remote facility or through thenetwork operation center in step 712.

In step 714, operational parameters (data) may be generated at the localcollection facility. The operational parameter signals may include thechannel signals themselves, the status of the encoder and the status ofthe receiver. In step 716, the operational parameter signals arecommunicated to the monitor and control system. As mentioned above, theoperational parameter signals may be communicated through an IP network.

In step 718, control signals are generated at the remote uplink facilityor network operation center in response to the operational parametersignals. In step 720, the control signals are communicated through theIP network to the receiving circuit module. The operating parameters ofthe receiving circuit modules are thus changed in response to thecontrol signal.

Examples of changing the parameters of the encoders may includeadjusting the audio and video parameters, enabling or disablingclosed-captioning, initiating ghost cancelling, selecting a video outputformat regardless of the input format, resetting the encoder andcontrolling or adjusting the processing amplifier such as chroma, hue,timing, pedestal, test pattern availability and the like.

Examples of the operation parameter signals may include various types ofoperational parameter signals such as a test pattern status such asenabled or disabled, a closed-captioning status, a primary or secondaryoutput stream status, an audio video status, an input signal alarm, alow bit error rate or modulation error ratio (MER) signal, a carrierlock alarm, a service lock alarm, an over temperature, power supply orfan alarm, a port failure or a buffer filled alarm. Each of thesesignals may be used as the operational parameter signals provided to themonitoring and control system from the local collection facility.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the receiving circuit module may also beremotely controlled to switch between various types of inputs. In step810, the receiving device is provided with an NTSC input and an ATSCinput through the RF input and an SDI input. In step 812, a controlsignal from the remote uplink facility or network operation center isgenerated. The control signal is communicated through the network to thelocal collection facility in step 812.

In step 814, the system is controlled to switch from a first input to asecond input. That is, the RF input circuit may be switched to provideinput signals from an NTSC source or an ATSC source. The system may alsobe changed to not use either of the NTSC or ATSC inputs but rather usethe serial digital interface. The switching from one input to anotherinput may be controlled from the remote uplink facility or networkoperation center. Because several local collection facilities may becoupled to a single remote uplink facility, this allows greaterflexibility for the system. When a particular television station changesfrom standard definition format to a high definition format, the changemay be easily accommodated at the local collection facility throughcontrol at the remote uplink facility.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the local collection facilities may alsoinclude a back-up receiving circuit module. Several back-up receivingcircuit modules may be included in a local collection facility.Preferably, one back-up receiving circuit module 108 is included for Nnumber of receiving circuit modules. In one example, for receivingcircuit modules correspond to one back-up receiving circuit module. Theback-up receiving circuit module may be referred to as a “pooled”back-up receiving module. Of course, the present invention applies tothe conditions where a receiving circuit module are composed of severalcircuits such as an individual encoder.

In step 910, an error signal may be received from a receiver circuitmodule at the local collection facility. The error signal may be one ofthe signals described above with respect to the operation of theencoder. The signals may be transmitted and an error determined at amonitoring facility. In step 912, the compression system controllersends a command to the local collection facility to route signals to theback-up receiver circuit module.

In step 914, the compression system controller commands the back-upreceiver circuit module to use the configuration and operationalparameters of the failed primary receiver circuit module without IP andmulticast addresses. In this case, the receiver may be tuned and decodedaccording to the parameters of the primary channel. In step 916, amirror mode may be entered with the back-up receiver circuit module. Themonitoring system may be used to monitor the channel signal through theback-up receiving circuit module prior to placing the back-up receivingcircuit module on air. In step 918, the primary encoder is replaced withthe back-up encoder in the multiplexing output stream. In step 920, thecompression system controller commands the primary and back-upmultiplexer to leave the multicast group of the failed primary receivingcircuit module. The compression system controller then commands themultiplexer to remove the failed primary receiver circuit module fromthe pool and set it as an inactive in step 922. In step 924, a back-upreceiver circuit module is switched to the statistical multiplexer andthe primary and back-up multiplexers at the remote uplink facility arecommanded to join the back-up receiver circuit module through themulticast address. Thus, the multiplexer is then able to receive theproperly addressed signals from the back-up receiving circuit module. Instep 926, the database of the compression system controller is updatedto indicate that the back-up receiving circuit module has been placed onair.

Should the primary receiving circuit module become repaired or no longerhas a problem, the back-up receiver circuit module may be released usingsteps 910 through 926.

As can be seen above, the manual switchover may be alook-before-leap-type system so that the accuracy and configuration ofthe back-up encoder may be verified before switching to it in an on-lineor on-air fashion. It should be noted that the process may be a manualswitchover or the process may provide automatic switchover based uponvarious signals received back from the local collection facility.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the remote uplink facility may also include asecondary or back-up remote uplink facility. This will be referred to asthe engineering USPS. Several remote or local collection facilities mayshare the same engineering USPS. The output of a USPS corresponds to thesignals for one transponder on one satellite for the case of thesatellite system. In the case of a non-satellite system, the word“uplink” may be not be used to end the description.

Various channels are received at the local collection facility. In step1012, the channel signals are received and encoded into IP signals by arespective receiving circuit module at each LCF. In step 1014, thechannel's IP signals are routed through the IP network to the remoteuplink facility. In step 1016, the primary and back-up USPS's aremonitored. In step 1018, the USPS back-up is verified.

In step 1020, configuration data is exported to the engineering USPSfrom the compression system controller including the encoder, monitorand control data. In step 1022, the configuration data is loaded intothe engineering compression system controller. In step 1024, anengineering standby mode is entered. The compression system controllermay propagate configuration data from the internal database to both thestatistical multiplexers to start receiving the IP packets multicastfrom the local collection facilities and perform a multiplexingoperation. Since both the statistical multiplexers of the engineeringUSPS are in standby mode, they do not send out allocation messages andthey share the same complexity messages sent by the encoders on the samemulticast address as the production USPS. In step 1026, once theengineering USPS signal is confirmed, the engineering compression systemcontroller communicates the configuration data from its internaldatabase to all the encoders at the local collection facilities in step1028. The statistical multiplexers are commanded to change the multicastaddress in step 1030. The ATPS of the engineering multiplexer is thusconfigured. Also, the modulator of the engineering USPS is configured.In step 1036, the change to the engineering USPS is completed and theengineering USPS is on-air while the primary USPS at the remote uplinkfacility is disabled.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoingdescription that the broad teachings of the disclosure can beimplemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosureincludes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure shouldnot be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to theskilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification andthe following claims.

1. A method comprising: receiving channel signals at a local collectionfacility; encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals; androuting the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remotefacility.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the IP signalscomprises video-over-IP signals.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1further comprising multiplexing the IP signals to form a multiplexedsignal; forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal.modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal;forming uplink signals from the modulated signals; and uplinking theuplink signals to a satellite.
 4. A method as recited in claim 3 whereinuplinking comprises uplinking the uplink signals from the remotefacility.
 5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein uplinking comprisesuplinking the uplink signals from a diverse site associated with theremote facility.
 6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprisingmonitoring and controlling the local collection facility remotelythrough the IP network.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising monitoring and controlling the local collection facilityremotely through the IP network at a network operations center.
 8. Amethod comprising: receiving a first plurality of channel signals at afirst local collection facility; receiving a second plurality ofchannels a second local collection facility spaced apart from the firstlocal collection facility; encoding the first plurality of channelsignals into a first plurality IP signals; encoding the second pluralityof channels into a second plurality of IP signals; and routing the firstIP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.
 9. A method asrecited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring and controlling thefirst local collection facility and the second local collection facilityremotely through the IP network.
 10. A method as recited in claim 8wherein the first local collection facility is located in firstdesignated marketing area and the second local collection facility islocated in a second designated marketing area.
 11. A method as recitedin claim 8 wherein the IP signals comprises video-over-IP signals.
 12. Amethod as recited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring andcontrolling the first local collection facility and the second localcollection facility remotely through the IP network.
 13. A method offorming an output signal comprising: receiving a first plurality ofchannel signals at a first local collection facility; receiving a secondplurality of channels a second local collection facility spaced apartfrom the first local collection facility; receiving a third plurality ofchannel signals at a third local collection facility; receiving a fourthplurality of channels a fourth local collection facility spaced apartfrom the first local collection facility; encoding the first pluralityof channel signals into a first plurality IP signals; encoding thesecond plurality of channels into a second plurality of IP signals;encoding the third plurality of channel signals into a third pluralityIP signals; encoding the fourth plurality of channels into a fourthplurality of IP signals; routing the first plurality of IP signals andthe second plurality of IP signals through an IP network to a firstremote facility; routing the third plurality of IP signals and thefourth plurality of IP signals through the IP network to a second remotefacility; and monitoring the first local collection facility, the secondlocal collection facility, the third local collection facility and thefourth local collection facility at a monitoring system.
 14. A method asrecited in claim 13 wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the firstlocal collection facility, the second local collection facility, thethird local collection facility and the fourth local collection facilitythrough an IP network.
 15. A method as recited in claim 13 furthercomprising controlling the first local collection facility, the secondlocal collection facility, the third local collection facility and thefourth local collection facility at a monitoring system.
 16. A method asrecited in claim 13 wherein controlling comprises controlling the firstlocal collection facility, the second local collection facility, thethird local collection facility and the fourth local collection facilitythrough an IP network.
 17. A system comprising: an IP network; a remotefacility; and a local collection facility in communication with thelocal collection facility through the IP network, said local collectionfacility receiving local channel signals at a local collection facilityand encoding the local channel signals into respective IP signals, saidlocal collection facility including a router routing the respective IPsignals through an IP network to a remote facility.
 18. A system asrecited in claim 17 wherein the router comprises a primary router and asecondary router.
 19. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the localchannel signals comprise terrestrial over the air channel signalsreceived through an antenna.
 20. A system as recited in claim 17 whereinthe local channel signals comprise standard definition terrestrial overthe air channel signals received through an antenna.
 21. A system asrecited in claim 17 wherein the local channel signals comprise highdefinition terrestrial over the air channel signals received through anantenna.
 22. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local channelsignals comprise channel signals received through wired or opticalconnection.
 23. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the localcollection facility comprises a plurality of local collectionfacilities.
 24. A system as recited in claim 17 further comprising amonitoring system in communication with the local collection facilitythrough the IP network.